Vehicle tax debtors

Elzorz

Hi all, first time poster, long time lurker

When my Nanna died in 2022, she gave me her car to look after until my little sis (15 at the time) was old enough to drive it. We transferred the log book etc - I taxed and insured the car until Jan 2025 when I gave the car to my little sis who still lives with my parents. I didn’t want to make little sis liable for the tax so I didn’t do the transfer of the log book but my mum agreed to tax the vehicle - however at the time I didn’t realise tax had to be paid by vehicle owner, so even though the car was being taxed, I was getting sent letters saying it needed to be paid (that I ignored)

A debtor agency is now chasing me for the fine of not paying the tax - but the car has been taxed the whole time. Is there any way to clear this up with the DVLA or should I just bite the bullet and pay the fine?

thanks for your help in advance  

Hoenir

Elzorz said:

 but the car has been taxed the whole time. 

Are you 100% certain........

HillStreetBlues

When you received the letters did you check it was taxed? https://www.gov.uk/check-vehicle-tax

QrizB

When did you last tax the vehicle? When did that tax expire?

What evidence do you have of the vehicle being taxed since that date?

MX5huggy

How did your mum tax the vehicle? The registered keeper (owner, they can be different) does not have to pay for the tax anyone can pay for it just who ever pays for it needs to have paid for it against the correct vehicle it’s the registered keepers responsibility that it is paid. 

TooManyPoints

...however at the time I didn’t realise tax had to be paid by vehicle owner, so even though the car was being taxed,

The DVLA don't know who owns the vehicle and they don't care. They also don't care who pays the tax, so long as it is paid. If it is not, the only person they can and will chase is the Registered Keeper (you).

So I suggest that your claim that it was taxed throughout may not be correct..

Non-payment of road tax is a criminal offence and you would have been convicted by a court of that failure. I imagine among he letters that you ignored was probably notification of court proceedings in the form of a "Single Justice Procedure Notice."

Herzlos

1st, ensure it's taxed now properly so it doesn't get worse. 

2nd, is it insured?

I suspect that whilst your mum has been "paying" the tax, it's getting rejected because she doesn't have the details correct, but then she should be seeing the tax payments getting refunded. How was your mum taxing it?

paul_c123

Did you tell your mum the 11 digit reference number on the V5? Without this, she'd have gotten nowhere quick.  And is the address of the registered keeper correct? If so, you'd have received "tax due..." letters if it wasn't taxed.

Elzorz

Hoenir said:

Elzorz said:

 but the car has been taxed the whole time. 

Are you 100% certain........

Oh man, I just checked because obviously this is great advice and the gov website say it’s not but my mum told me in January it was sorted 

QrizB

Elzorz said:

Hoenir said:

Elzorz said:

 but the car has been taxed the whole time. 

Are you 100% certain........

Oh man, I just checked because obviously this is great advice and the gov website say it’s not but my mum told me in January it was sorted

I think you need a chat with your mum, then!

Car_54

TooManyPoints said:

...however at the time I didn’t realise tax had to be paid by vehicle owner, so even though the car was being taxed,

The DVLA don't know who owns the vehicle and they don't care. They also don't care who pays the tax, so long as it is paid. If it is not, the only person they can and will chase is the Registered Keeper (you).

So I suggest that your claim that it was taxed throughout may not be correct..

Non-payment of road tax is a criminal offence and you would have been convicted by a court of that failure. I imagine among he letters that you ignored was probably notification of court proceedings in the form of a "Single Justice Procedure Notice."

Agreed. January to May is far to soon for a prosecution to have taken place, especially since DVLA would normally offer an OOC settlement first.

OP needs to answer the queries above to get any sensible advice.